Fired FBI Director James Comey kicked off the most watched political testimony in years by blasting the lies told after President sacked him, blasting an administration he says chose to demean him.

In testimony watched around the nation, Comey called out shifting explanations that followed his firing, and specifically pointed to Trumps televised comment that he fired Comey because of the FBIs Russia investigation.

The administration then chose to demean me and more importantly the FBI, Comey complained at the top of his remarks.

Those were lies, plain and simple, he said.

Comey testified he believed the president directed him to halt a probe of security advisor Mike Flynn, said he kept copious notes because he feared Trump would lie, and acknowledged putting out information about his unusual meetings with the president after Trump tweeted after he fired Comey.

The president tweeted on Friday, after I got fired, that Id better hope theres not tapes. I woke up in the middle of the night Monday night, because it didnt dawn on me originally, that there might be corroboration for our conversation, Comey testified.

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SHOWTIME: Former FBI Director James Comey arrives to testify during a US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington,DC, June 8, 2017

There might be a tape. And my judgement was, I needed to get that out into the public square. And so I asked a friend of mine to share the content of that memo with a reporter. Didnt do it myself for a variety of reasons, but I asked him to because I thought that might prompt the appointment of a special counsel ... a good friend of mine whos a professor at Columbia Law School, Comey said.

He said he kept detailed records of his interactions with the president because he was honestly concerned that [Trump] might lie about the nature of our meeting.

It was a contrast to the reviews he got from the president while he was in office. He had repeatedly told me I was doing a great job and he hoped I would stay.

In an early revelation, Comey stopped short of describing a conversation where Trump asked him to let go of an investigation into fired national security advisor Mike Flynn as obstruction of justice, which is a federal crime.

General Flynn at that point of time was in legal jeopardy. There was an open FBI criminal investigation of his statements in connection with the Russian contacts and the contacts themselves, Comey said.

I dont think its for me to say whether the conversation I had with the president was an effort to obstruct. I took it as a very disturbing thing, very concerning. But thats a conclusion Im sure the special counsel will work towards, to try and understand what the intention was there, and whether thats an offense, he said.

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Comey admitted he was cowardly in telling Trump he would see what he could do about a request, and acknowledges he didnt scold Trump for his requests at the time. I was so stunned by the conversation that I just took it in, he said

Comey explained why he kept detailed memos on his conversations and meetings with the president – something he said he didnt do with President George W. Bush and Barack Obama because there wasnt a need.

I knew that there might come a day when I would need a record of what had happened, not just to defend myself but to defend the FBI and our integrity as an institution, Comey said.

I was honestly concerned that he might lie about the nature of our meeting, so I thought it really important to document, he said.

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Comeys testimony was a media circus

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Former FBI Director James Comey is welcomed by Committee Chairman Senator Richard Burr (R) and Vice Chairman Senator Mark Warner (C) to a US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, June 8, 2017

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Former FBI Director James Comey responds to Senator Mark Warner on Capitol Hill, in testimony carried on CBS

Comey also explained how he interpreted Trumps statement in an unusual one-on-one meeting where he asked Comey to let the investigation of security advisor Mike Flynn go.

Under questioning from Sen. James Ritsch, Comey said the exact words Trump words were that he hoped he would let the probe go.

Those words are not an order, he acknowledged.

But he also said: I took it as a direction. This is the president of the United States with me along saying: "I hope this." I took it as what he wants me to do, Comey said.

I was so stunned by the conversation that I just took it in, he said under questioning from Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

Comey dared Trump to release tapes of their meetings: Ive seen the tweet about tapes. Lordy, I hope there are tapes!

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Former FBI Director James Comey arrives to testify during a US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington,DC, June 8, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Mandel NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images

The Senates big top opened Thursday for the latest circus in the Trump-Comey saga, as the Republican chairman of the Senate Intelligence committee thanked James Comey for his candor in prepared testimony saying nation needs to hear his side of the story.

The former FBI directors testimony began with reporters far outnumbering the public in a packed Intelligence Committee hearing room.

This is not a witch hunt. It is not fake news. It’s an effort to protect our country, said the panels top Democrat, Mark Warner of Virginia, in a shot a President Trump.

Comey stared straight ahead as the hearing was called to order, but entered the hearing room to a chorus of camera shutters that sounded more like a downpour of rainfall than a political turning point.

The shutters continued when he rose and raised his hand to take the oath to tell the truth.

In a hugely anticipated display of political warfare, fired FBI director James Comey went to the Capitol to recount a series of conversations with PresidentDonald Trump that he says made him deeply uneasy and concerned about the blurring of boundaries between the White House and a law enforcement agency that prides itself on independence.

It was apparent from the get-go that Comeys testimony would involve drama, substance, and theater. As soon as he took his seat in a Senate hearing room, he was surrounded by cameras.

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The event was carried live on cable and broadcast networks

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Comey stared straight ahead as the hearing was called to order.

Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), the Intelligence Committee chairman, thanked him for his dedicated leadership and dedicated service to the FBI.

Referencing his bombshell written testimony, Burr said, Your statement also provides texture and context to your interactions with the president.

He said it outlines a strained relationship.

The American people need to hear your side of the story, just as they need to hear the president’s description of events, Burr said.

Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the committees ranking Democrat, said in an opening statement that Comey is a straight shooter who has been willing to speak truth to power, even at the risk of your career. Which makes the way in which you were fired by the President utterly shockin